D-Backs Agree to Five-Year Extension With SS Ketel Marte

The Arizona Diamondbacks are sticking with shortstop Ketel Marte for the foreseeable future.

Arizona and Marte have reportedly reached an agreement on a five-year, $24 million extension that could turn out to be a seven-year, $46 million pact with two option years attached. The agreement was first reported by Robert Murray of FanRag Sports.

When this extension becomes official, the earliest Marte will be able to reach free agency is following the conclusion of 2022 season. If the team options get picked up by Arizona, it’ll delay Marte’s free agency until after his age season, which is ideally when most MLB players become free agents for the first time.

The extension will also get Marte out of all his arbitration years and at least the first year of his free agency eligibility. Basic math tells us that if Marte’s two option years both get picked up, the contract will then cover three years of free agency eligibility.

Marte was acquired by the Diamondbacks via the trade that sent Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis to the Seattle Mariners. Seattle also shipped Taijuan Walker to Arizona in the deal along with Marte, as both teams have squeeze good value out of this trade to this point.

Last season, Marte primarily played shortstop for the Diamondbacks when injuries to Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings happened. MLB.com projects that Ahmed will open the season as the team’s starting shortstop, but it’s clear the Diamondbacks value Marte highly going forward more than anything.

The 24-year-old Marte slashed .260/.345/.395 with 5 home runs and 18 runs batted in across 255 plate appearances last season.